SWEETWATER-When Mayor Doyle Lowe wants something for Sweetwater, it is usually not wise to bet against him getting it.

The mayor still has high hopes the Cracker Barrel will return to Sweetwater, especially since the motel next door has a new owner and is no longer owned by a bank.

"I am very, very optimistic," Lowe said, during Monday night's Sweetwater Regional Planning Commission meeting.

Lowe said he has been in contact with Cracker Barrel officials and said they had told him previously that having a viable motel next door would make coming back to Sweetwater more attractive.

The Lebanon-based restaurant and country store chain closed the Sweetwater store in 2007 and opened a brand new store in Athens that autumn.

The Sweetwater store had been one of the first Cracker Barrels to open when Interstate 75 was completed nearly 40 years ago.

See full story in the Wednesday, Nov. 21, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.